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In the movie "The Lord of the Rings", there is an old man in a robe and holding a stick, Gandalf. In the Middle-earth world constructed by the author Tolkien, where human, elves, dwarves and other races unite to expedition to the "Lord of the Rings Holy War", Gandalf plays the role of "hub": he is one of the cosmic gods, he pushes the protagonist to lead the humanity to reunite, his key decisions turn the tide of the war several times, and his participation makes the two sides of the battle with a huge disparity of strength have a suspense of victory or defeat...
Gandalf of the Grey-robed Wizarding Period later helped the Hobbits. Source/Footage from the movie The Hobbit
The character of Gandalf originated from the character of the same name in Norse mythology. In The Poetic Edda, a legend of the Norse gods, the name "Gandalf" derives from the combination of the Ancient Norse words "gandr" (magic wand) and "álfr" (elf), meaning "elf wielding a magic wand".
Interestingly, as the plot progresses, the stick in Gandalf's hand also ushers in a "renewal".
Gandalf of the white-robed wizarding period held different scepters. Source/Fragment from the movie The Lord of the Rings 2
The rough wooden scepter in the hands of the grey-robed wizard Gandalf fell into the abyss with Gandalf during the battle to kill the Fire Demon on Mount Silaxigel. Later, Gandalf was resurrected by Eru Ilúvatar, the "father of all things", and was "promoted" to a white-robed wizard, and the scepter became pure white and exquisitely honored.
In fact, we can find the existence of the "staff" in many works of literature, painting, and film and television. For example, in J.K. Rowling's wizarding world, the wand is a tool used by a magician to cast spells, and without this tiny stick, spells cannot be performed. Otherwise, can you imagine Voldemort shouting "Avada Kedavra" while his hands were empty?
Voldemort dueled with Harry. Source/Screenshot of the movie Harry Potter
In fact, the history of the "staff" is older than we think. From the living utensils that assist walking, to the king's noble scepter, the bishop's staff to perform the priestly duties, to the "civilization stick" in the hands of European gentlemen, to the wand dedicated to wizards in the wizarding world... What is the tradition of these "sticks" in different periods and different worldviews? Why is it so beloved by Westerners?
The origin of the "staff": the code of power
The Shuowen Jiezi says: "The staff, hold it." Whatever can be held and held by anyone is called a staff. "The rod is a living tool used to help humans walk. However, in some parts of the world, the rod has developed a special function in social life, becoming a symbol of power, which is used by rulers who hold secular, religious, military, etc. to show themselves as the owners of such powers. A staff with this function is also known as a "Scepter".
The so-called "scepter" is a long stick artifact used by ancient nobles and rulers to express power and status, and it is also one of the oldest artifact-type gods in the Babel god system. Its handles were often made of wood and perishable, but because their tops were often made of noble items such as stone, ivory, rhino horn, copper, and gold, they survived to this day. At present, the remaining scepters excavated in archaeology are often only the top of them. Such artifacts first appeared in the West, and Western academics called them "Maceheads".
Globally, as early as 9500 BC to 8800 BC, stone scepter heads appeared in the Anatolian plateau and at the ruins of Hallanemi in Turkey. In addition, many remnants of the scepter head have been found in places such as the Mesopotamian plains and Egypt. Near the village of Kolosova Polyana (44°28'56"N, 40°23'12"E) in the mountainous region of northwestern Caucasus, early Bronze Age stone scepter heads have been found, and the decoration on them conveys the image of a magical beast based on the head of a wild boar, which vividly proves the religious beliefs of the ancient population of the mountainous region of the northwestern Caucasus.
Kolosova Polyana村发掘的石权杖头。 来源/Korenevskiy， S.N. (2015). Two New Finds of the Chalcolithic–Bronze Age from the Fars River in the Northwestern Caucasus. Archaeology， Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia，43(1)， 40–46.doi:10.1016/j.aeae.2015.07.005
The scepter in early religions was derived from the shepherd's stick in the hands of shepherds.
Photo of shepherding sheep. Photography / Oleg Zhukovk, source / figureworm creative
The scepter is the "pastoral staff" used by the bishops of the Church during the Great Liturgical Mass, which represents the Holy Authority and is generally used only by the high clergy of the Church. The scepter of the bishop symbolizes the duty of the shepherd, just as the shepherd takes care of the flock with the staff, and the bishop's office is to support the weak, to comfort the suffering, to admonish the lazy, to punish the wrong, to teach the foolish, to proclaim the truth, to uphold justice. The Church has traditionally held that the scepter is a metaphor for spiritual leaders and administrators. Whether in the parish or indirect pastoral work, they are in a position of leadership, representing the direction of Christ and caring for the Lord's "flock."
The Old Testament also records a story in which Moses used the scepter in his hand to split the Red Sea in half, exposing the land in the middle, leading the Jews out of Egypt. This shows what a miraculous holy instrument the scepter is for religion.
The oldest scepters were no different from those of today, but the church, out of reverence for the Lord and solemnity and seriousness in the liturgy, gradually adopted gilded, silver, bronze and other decorations. It is used in etiquette, so it requires fine craftsmanship and exquisite appearance in its production. The upper end of the scepter is slightly curved, some are semicircular or full circle, and the lower end is slightly pointed. The height is about 1.80 meters. The scepters used by bishops are basically made of gold, silver or fine wood, but if wood is used, most of them are set with metal or ivory, and their processes are more cumbersome and the styles are diverse.
Photograph of the bishop holding a scepter. Photography / jaceksphotos, source / figure worm creative
During World War II, the lavish scepter also became a symbol of honor for German marshals, and was divided into four types: the scepter of the imperial marshal, the scepter of the marshal of the army, the scepter of the admiral of the navy, and the scepter of the air marshal. The Marshal's Staff was the highest reward for personal achievement in Germany under Hitler, and the heavy metal and precious stones represented the duty and authority of the Marshal.
So what makes a stick with decorations a symbol of authority?
Homer's Epic describes the capture of Troy by Agamemnon, the commander of the Greek Allied Army, and introduces the scepter in the hands of this hero in great detail.
Agamemnon stood up with a scepter in his hand, which Hephaestus had carefully made for him. The god of craftsmen gave it to the son of Kronos, the great god Zeus, Zeus to the god who killed the shepherd Argos, the king of Hermes to Pelopus of Thema, Pelopes to the shepherd of the people, Atreus to the sheep-goggled Tiestus when he died, and Tiestes gave it to Agamemnon, making him king of many islands and all of Argos.
In Agamemnon's hands, the scepter symbolized not only a political custom, but also carried the order of the gods (Hephaestus dedicated the scepter to Zeus, who in turn gave it to Hermes) and the lineage of the king (the scepter was successively ruled by Pelopus, Atreus, Theestus, and Agamemnon). The sacred source and lineage of the scepter laid the foundation for the political authority it symbolized.
Sculpture of Agamemnon. Photography / Sridhar, Source / Figureworm Creative
The scepter is not a weapon similar to a spear or a sword, intended to kill or maim others, but a tool of social control designed to destroy the honor and prestige of others. In a status-obsessed society like Homer's, the Scepter demonstrated the king's superiority over his subordinates: only they had the right to humiliate and punish them without fear of reprisals. Thus, whenever he engaged in public acts such as judging cases or convening assemblies, the king himself took the scepter to make it clear that they were exercising privileges.
"Civilization Stick": the "fashion item" of European gentlemen
In the 1920s, Puyi sat on a civilization stick during an outing in Tianjin. Source/Illustration of "The Hidden Shadow of the Forbidden City (Court Figures in a Diorama)"
In the history of China, there is a famous photo of Puyi, the "Emperor of the Qing Dynasty", wearing glasses and wearing a suit and leather shoes, sitting firmly on a stick. Looking for photos of Puyi's contemporaries, we will find that he has a strong preference for "sticks".
The stick in Puyi's hand, scientifically known as the Walking stick, originated in the West. The cane, which was popular in European high society in the 17th and 20th centuries, was a symbol of the elegance of European gentlemen and was introduced to China in the late Qing Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. In the eyes of the Chinese at that time, the "foreign thing" of the cane symbolized Western civilization, so it was basically a stick used only by the elderly and the disabled, and it had a new name in China - "civilization stick".
Unlike the unique scepters of medieval European bishops and monarchs, the cane was a must-have item for European gentlemen to attend social occasions, and it was also a "fashion item" that was often found in the wardrobe all year round. In Western Europe in the middle of the 17th century, chivalry gradually transformed into a gentlemanly demeanor, becoming a social trend pursued by middle and upper class men in Europe. Instead of the knight's sword at the waist, the ornate cane became an accessory symbolizing status and status. The popularity of the cane among gentlemen and aristocrats also inspired the rise of the cane customization industry. However, not everyone can enjoy this luxury accessory. In the 17th century, the cane was one of the criteria for identifying true and false rich people. During a tea break at a ball, a cigar in a salon, or a trophy at a fox hunt, a delicate cane is like a gentleman's second shadow, always showing the noble status of the master.
With the vigorous development of capitalist industrialization in the 19th century, the cane gradually became popular and became the key for every European man who wanted to enter the gentry class to step into the gentleman's door. Chaplin in the black-and-white silent film, Sherlock Holmes in 221B Baker Street, the great Gatsby... We can find traces of canes in many literary and film works.
Chaplin's classic cane-wielding image. Photography / Anna Nazarova, source / Figureworm Creative
Gatsby walked briskly in the rain with a cane. Source/Screenshot of the movie The Great Gatsby
To choose the best spokesperson for the cane in history, it is Churchill. A straight suit, a dark gentleman's hat and a well-made cane are essential outfits for the iron-fisted politician.
Statue of Churchill, London. Photography / Claudio Divizia, source / figureworm creative
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the cane culture in Europe reached its peak.
In 1898, the Englishman Edward William Barton Wright declared himself practicing a new system of self-defense. He spent three years in Japan, combining a variety of Japanese jiu-jitsu and other fighting techniques, and combining his surname "Barton" and the pronunciation of jiu-jitsu "Jujitsu" to create a close-quarters martial art, Bartitsu.
One of the characteristics of Barton's technique is the use of sticks, staffs, long-handled umbrellas and other British gentleman's personal belongings to fight, which can hit opponents in a short period of time and end the battle, while not damaging their own clothing, insulting Sven, making the fighter a veritable "suit thug". In the writings of detective writer Conan Doyle, one of the characteristics of the protagonist, Sherlock Holmes, is his proficiency in swords and sticks, the use of Bartonism, and this fusion of Eastern and Western traditions of martial arts is immortal.
Sherlock Holmes using Barton's technique for self-defense. Source/Screenshot of the movie "Sherlock Holmes"
The cane is like a sword in peacetime, guarding the gentleman's demeanor throughout his life. It is a tangible class standard that uses materials, decorations and the posture of the user to strike out the unique personality of its owner on the ground.
Awakening of Magic: Wand and Magician
When it comes to the "stick" in the eyes of Westerners, the "wand" in witchcraft culture also has an irreplaceable position.
In witchcraft culture, wizards' illusory abilities are invisible or untouchable. Witchcraft, or magic, attached to the individual of the wizard, does not seem to be very convincing. Thus, a kind of embodied existence that is substantially endowed with "ability", the wand, came into being.
The earliest image of the wand appears in Western literature in one of Homer's epics, the Odyssey:
The goddess led the guests to their seats and brought out her best wine and exquisite delicacies to entertain the people. As they were drinking, she clicked them one by one with her wand, and they suddenly turned into pigs and spoke like pigs.
Witchcraft has a long history around the world, but since then it has been stigmatized by the forces of the church and has become an "outlier" that the people avoid. With the reversal of the Salem witch case and the rise of the Enlightenment, the image of the wizard gradually became positive, and "magic" was no longer a creepy poison. In the fairy tale Cinderella, the fairy godmother wields a wand and says "Bibidi Babidi, Bu!" The incantation sent Cinderella a beautiful evening dress, crystal shoes, and a pumpkin carriage.
The scene where the Fairy Godmother casts a spell to transform Cinderella. Source/Fragment of the movie Cinderella
Unlike the ornate scepter, the material of the wand is often mainly wood, light and short, and its image is relatively simple and simple, but it symbolizes the power and status of a wizard or magician. In Harry Potter, the wand is usually between 9 and 14 inches long, and its exterior is made of different precious woods, and it uses magical substances such as phoenix feathers, unicorn hair, and dragon heart nerves, which have different materials, lengths, and elasticity, which are also suitable for different magicians. Most wizards will buy their first wand at the Ollivander Wand Shop in Diagon Alley before turning eleven and receiving magical education.
Harry received his first wand. Source/Clip from the movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Wand maker Garrick Ollivander once said of the length and elasticity of the wand:
In my experience, longer wands may be suitable for taller wizards, but they are more likely to be attracted to wizards with strong personalities and a broader and more striking style of magic. The more dexterous wand prefers to cast elegant and delicate spells.
In the film Adaptation Potter, olivade's wand to the protagonist Harry is made of hollywood and phoenix feathers. Holly is characterized by precision and is seen as a symbol of fighting, protecting, and fighting evil; because holly is an evergreen plant, it also represents persistence and endurance; and in the Christian tradition, holly also symbolizes death and rebirth. All these characteristics foreshadow Harry's own personality and future life direction. These plots, which require a lot of preparation and thought, are all reflected in a small magic wand.
Ollivander gave Harry the Holly Wood Wand. Source/Screenshot from the movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
However, when the "magic wand" arrived in China, it also had its brother magic weapon with the same root and origin. Do you see that the dust in the hands of Daoist monks such as Taishang Laojun, Taiyi Zhenren, and Lü Dongbin is not a magic wand unique to Chinese cultivators?
Taishang Laojun: What's the matter? Western wands can't dust ashes? Source/ Screenshot of the 86 version of the TV series "Journey to the West"
In modern times, in the eyes of a group of idiot men and women, the fairy stick has also been given "magic". With the bloom of this cold firework, the wish is given a magical color, otherwise how can the song sing "Wait for the Gemini meteor shower to sprinkle the sky, first light nine fairy sticks instead"? But in this regard, the firefighter uncle has something to say:
"Although the magical world is gorgeous, cold fireworks need to be cautious in fire prevention!"
Fairy stick. Photography /back camera of Sydney, source/figure worm creative
Of course, whether it is the royal staff of the ancient Roman emperor who was crowned by power, the cane of the English gentleman who showed his status, or the noble scepter of the German marshal... Coming to China, it is not easy to make it. Stick, Immortal Realm, we only recognize the "Golden Hoop Stick" of the Great Sage of Heaven——
Source/Fragment of the movie Journey to the West
In reality, we have to say "hit the dog stick"——
Source/Screenshot of the movie "Wu Zhuangyuan Su Qi'er"
Resources:
Chen Siyi. From the "Scepter" to the "Tree Bed": The Question of Nature and Custom in Homer's Epic[J].Cultural Development Series,2017,2(02):128-141.
Thundergull. The Lord of the Rings and the Scepter: The Truth Behind Modern Mythology[J].The Big Stage, 2006(06):56-59.
[3] Le Yi,Wang Wei. Scepter: The Authority of the Shepherd[J].World Religions and Cultures, 2001(03):49.
[4] Korenevskiy， S.N. (2015). Two New Finds of theChalcolithic–Bronze Age from the Fars River in the Northwestern Caucasus.Archaeology， Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia， 43(1)， 40–46. doi:10.1016/j.aeae.2015.07.005
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Author | Guan He
Edit | Jensia
Proofreading | Yanwen Guyue
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